System and method for facilitating user interaction with a virtual space through a graphical chat interface

ABSTRACT

A system and method for facilitating user interactions with a virtual space through a graphical chat interface is disclosed. One or more potential inputs to the virtual space and/or virtual space status information may be determined dynamically for a user participating in a chat session through a graphical chat interface. An activity notification may be generated for the user based one the determined potential inputs and/or the virtual space status information. The generated activity notification may comprise graphical representation for the notification and as well as representation information for one or more controls facilitating the user to provide inputs requested by the activity notification through the graphical chat interface. User acceptance to the activity notification via the graphical chat interface may be received. One or more activity commands may be generated based on the received user acceptance and executed in the virtual space.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to facilitating user interactions with a virtualspace through a graphical chat interface provided by a provider of thevirtual space, the user interactions with the virtual space beingfacilitated by presenting virtual space activity notifications andreceiving user inputs to the virtual space through the graphical chatinterface.

BACKGROUND

Systems that provide chat within a virtual space are known. In thosesystems, general status and updates regarding chat rooms are typicallyprovided through a user chat interface. For example, in some of thosesystems, information regarding arrival, departure, and/or a number ofusers in a chat room may be presented through the user chat interface.In those systems, information about user status (e.g., browsinginternet, playing a game, etc.) may also be presented through the userchat interface. However, in those systems, means to interact withvirtual space for initiating user actions within the virtual space arenot provided through the user chat interface. Therefore, a user engagingin a chat through the chat interface will have to leave the user chatinterface and switch to a virtual space interface in order to interactwith the virtual space.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure relates to facilitating user interactionswith a virtual space through a graphical chat interface. Potentialinputs to the virtual space and/or virtual space status information maybe determined dynamically for a user participating in a chat sessionthrough the graphical chat interface. Such a dynamic determination maybe made to provide the user, who is engaging in social interactionsthrough the graphical chat interface, opportunities and/or motivationsto respond to occurrences of events within the virtual space, tocontinue activities within the virtual space, to progress in the virtualspace, and/or to engage in any other user interactions with the virtualspace. An activity notification requesting the potential inputs from theuser and/or indicating the virtual space status information may begenerated. The activity notification may be graphically presented to theuser through the graphical chat interface. The graphically presentedactivity notification may comprise one or more controls to facilitatethe user to provide inputs requested by the activity notification. Uponthe user inputs responding to the activity notification via thegraphical chat interface, a corresponding activity command may begenerated and executed in the virtual space. This may allow the user tointeract with the virtual space and still engage in social interactionsthrough the graphical chat interface. This may increase monetizationopportunities and/or retention rate for the provider of the virtualspace as the user may not be encumbered to interact with the virtualspace through a space interface and leave the chat interface as requiredby the conventional virtual space systems.

In some implementations, a system configured to facilitate userinteractions with virtual space through a chat in the virtual space maycomprise a server. The server may operate in a client/serverarchitecture with one or more client computing platforms. The clientcomputing platforms may be associated with the users of the virtualspace. The server may be configured to execute one or more of a spacemodule, a user-activity module, a chat module, an activity-notificationmodule, a response-request module, and/or other modules.

The space module may be configured to execute an instance of a virtualspace. The space module may implement the instance of the virtual spaceto facilitate user interactions with the virtual space. The userinteractions may be facilitated by executing actions within the virtualspace. In some examples, the executed user actions may cause statechanges within the virtual space.

The chat module may be configured to implement chat sessions tofacilitate synchronous textual communications between users. The textualcommunications may include one or more of textual chat, instantmessages, private messages, and/or other textual communications. Thetextual communications may facilitate the users to share informationabout the virtual space, engage in social interactions, recruit otherusers, invite other users to cooperate, and/or engage in any otheractivities enabled by the textual communications. The chat module maytransmit the textual communications for presentation through graphicalchat interfaces implemented on client computing platforms.

The user-activity module may be configured to dynamically identifypotential inputs to the space module for users who are participating inchat sessions through graphical chat interfaces. The potential inputsmay be identified by the user-activity module in order for those usersto respond to occurrences of events within the virtual space, tocontinue activities within the virtual space, to progress in the virtualspace, and/or to engage in any other user interactions with the virtualspace. The dynamically identified potential inputs may include inputsfor the user to, but not limited to, defend and/or attack a virtualspace location, march troops, transport troops and/or virtual resources,build constructions, train virtual space entities, research, mine,craft, prospect and/or to engage in any other user interactions withvirtual space. In some examples, the potential inputs may involve userspecifications of an amount, type of virtual resource and/or items to beconsumed within the virtual space in order for the user to continueactivities and/or to progress in the virtual space. In someimplementations, the user-activity module may be configured todynamically determine virtual space status information related to such auser. The status information may include information indicating statusof the activities engaged by the user in the virtual space, informationregarding opportunities and/or motivations provided by the virtualspace, and/or any other virtual space status information related to theuser. In some implementations, such status information may be determinedby the user-activity module in response to occurrences of events relatedto the user. In some implementations, such status information may bedetermined at a frequency predetermined by the provider of the virtualspace.

Responsive to the identified potential inputs and/or determined statusinformation by the user-activity module for the user participating inthe chat session through the graphical chat interface, the activitynotification module may be configured to generate an activitynotification for presentation in the graphical chat interface to theuser. The activity-notification module may be configured to effectuatecommunication of the generated activity notification for presentationthrough the graphical chat interface. In some implementations, thegenerated activity notifications may comprise graphical representationinformation for the graphically presenting the notification in thegraphical chat interface. The graphical representation information mayinclude information for presenting one or more controls that facilitatesconsumption of virtual resources and/or items by the users through thegraphical chat interface.

The response-request module may be configured to receive an useracceptance to the activity notification and to generate one or moreactivity commands executable by the space module. The received useracceptance may include inputs provided by the user as requested by theactivity notification. Responsive to receiving such an user acceptance,the response-request module may generate one or more activity commandsexecutable by the space module to effectuate the user action initiatedthrough the acceptance. This may involve parsing the user acceptance,extracting action parameters from the acceptance, and constructing theone or more activity commands based on the action parameters usingpredetermined syntax.

These and other features, and characteristics of the present technology,as well as the methods of operation and functions of the relatedelements of structure and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description and the appended claims with reference to theaccompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification,wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in thevarious figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that thedrawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only andare not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As usedin the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”,and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a system configured to facilitate userinteractions with a virtual space through a graphical chat interface.

FIG. 2A illustrates one example of facilitating user interactions with avirtual space through a graphical chat interface in accordance with thedisclosure.

FIG. 2B illustrates an example of facilitating a user to consume virtualitems through a graphical chat interface 200 in accordance with thedisclosure.

FIG. 2C illustrates an example of facilitating a user to interact withthe virtual space by identifying potential inputs for the user toinitiate an action within the virtual space.

FIG. 2D illustrates another example of facilitating a user to interactwith a virtual space through a graphical chat interface.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary method 300 for facilitating userinteractions with the virtual space through a graphical chat interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a system configured to facilitate userinteractions with a virtual space through a graphical chat interface.One or more potential inputs and/or virtual space status information tofacilitate user interactions with the virtual space may be determinedfor a user who is participating in a chat session through a graphicalchat interface. An activity notification may be generated notifying theuser that potential inputs may be provided by the user to progress inthe virtual space. Simultaneously or alternatively, the activitynotification may be generated to indicate the virtual space statusinformation determined for the user. The activity notification maycomprise graphical representation and controls for presentation throughthe graphic chat interface to the user. Based on user acceptance to theactivity notification through the graphical chat interface, one or moreactivity commands may be generated and executed in the virtual space. Asso facilitated, the user does not have to leave the graphical chatinterface in order to interact with the virtual space. This may enhanceuser experience with the virtual space as the user may expeditiously andconveniently interact with the virtual space while engaging socialinteractions through the graphical chat interface. Further, this mayalso improve monetization and/or user retention opportunities for theprovider of the virtual space as the users are enabled to consumevirtual resources and/or items through the graphical chat interface.

In some implementations, system 100 may include a server 102. The server102 may be configured to communicate with one or more client computingplatforms 104 according to a client/server architecture. The users mayaccess system 100 and/or the virtual space via client computingplatforms 104. Server 102 may be configured to execute one or morecomputer program modules. The one or more computer program modules mayinclude one or more of a space module 106, a user-activity module 108, achat module 110, an activity-notification module 112, a response-requestmodule 114, and/or other modules.

Space module 106 may be configured to implement the instance of thevirtual space executed by the computer modules. The instance of thevirtual space may reflect the state of the virtual space. The instanceof the virtual space may be used to push state information to clientsfor implementation on the clients, may be used to verify stateinformation generated on clients executing expressions of the instancelocally, and/or for other purposes. State information may includeinformation about the state of the virtual space such as, withoutlimitation, position information of one or more objects, topographyinformation, object status/shape information, battle information, scoreinformation, user or character progress information, user inventoryinformation, progress information for one or more activities or actions,view information describing a view of the virtual space, and/or otherinformation that describes the state of the virtual space. Expressionsof the instance executed on the clients facilitate presentation of viewson the clients of the virtual space. Expressions of the instanceexecuted on the clients may be configured to simply present views of thevirtual space based on the state information (e.g., via streaming viewinformation, object/position information, and/or other stateinformation) received from space module 106. Expressions of the instanceexecuted on the clients may include space logic that effectivelyprovides for execution of a limited version of the instance on a clientthat is synchronized and/or verified with state information receivedfrom space module 106. The view presented on a given client maycorrespond to a location in the virtual space (e.g., the location fromwhich the view is taken, the location the view depicts, and/or otherlocations), a zoom ratio, a dimensionality of objects, a point-of-view,and/or view parameters. One or more of the view parameters may beselectable by the user.

The instance of the virtual space may comprise a simulated space that isaccessible by users via clients (e.g., client computing platforms 104)that present the views of the virtual space to a user through a spaceinterface implemented on client computing platform associated with theuser. The space interface may be generated based on view informationdetermined by the space module 106. The space interface may provide oneor more virtual space controls to facilitate user actions in the virtualspace by the user. The facilitated actions may include user engagementin a combat and/or defense, virtual space maneuvers, inventorymanagement, city management, construction of infrastructure, miningactivities, virtual recourses and/or items trading or purchasing,transferring virtual resources, items and/or entities, picking upvirtual space resources, and/or any other actions in the virtual space.

In any case, the simulated space may have a topography, express ongoingreal-time interaction by one or more users, and/or include one or moreobjects positioned within the topography that are capable of locomotionwithin the topography. In some instances, the topography may be a2-dimensional topography. In other instances, the topography may be a3-dimensional topography. The topography may include dimensions of thespace, and/or surface features of a surface or objects that are “native”to the space. In some instances, the topography may describe a surface(e.g., a ground surface) that runs through at least a substantialportion of the space. In some instances, the topography may describe avolume with one or more bodies positioned therein (e.g., a simulation ofgravity-deprived space with one or more celestial bodies positionedtherein). The instance executed by the computer modules may besynchronous, asynchronous, and/or semi-synchronous.

The above description of the views of the virtual space determined fromthe instance executed by space module 106 is not intended to belimiting. The virtual space may be presented in a more limited, orricher, manner. For example, views of the virtual space may be selectedfrom a limited set of graphics depicting an event in a given placewithin the virtual space. The views may include additional content(e.g., text, audio, pre-stored video content, and/or other content) thatdescribes particulars of the current state of the place, beyond therelatively generic graphics. For example, a view may include a genericbattle graphic with a textual description of the opponents to beconfronted. Other representations of individual places within thevirtual space are contemplated.

Within the instance of the virtual space executed by space module 106,users may control characters, objects, simulated physical phenomena(e.g., wind, rain, earthquakes, and/or other phenomena), and/or otherelements within the virtual space to interact with the virtual spaceand/or each other. The user characters may include avatars. As usedherein, the term “user character” may refer to an object (or group ofobjects) present in the virtual space that represents an individualuser. The user character may be controlled by the user, with which it isassociated. The user controlled element(s) may move through and interactwith the virtual space (e.g., non-user characters in the virtual space,other objects in the virtual space). The user may initiate maneuvers todirect the movements of controlled character in the virtual space. Theuser controlled elements controlled by and/or associated with a givenuser may be created and/or customized by the given user. The user mayhave an “inventory” of virtual goods and/or currency that the user canuse (e.g., by manipulation of a user character or other user controlledelement, and/or other items) within the virtual space.

Within the instance of the virtual space executed by space module 106,virtual space activities may be provided for users to interact with thevirtual space. Examples of virtual space activities may includeconstructing, upgrading, demolishing buildings, training, marching,reinforcing, reassigning, recruiting, arranging formations, and/ortransporting troops, attacking, developing, managing, demolishing and/ordefending cities, realms, kingdoms, and/or any other virtual spacelocation entities, crafting or transporting virtual items, attacking,and/or interacting with non-player characters (NPCs herein-after) and/orother user characters, researching for skills levels, experiences,mining and/or prospecting for virtual resources, participating inmissions, quests, and/or campaigns, and/or any other activities providedby the virtual space. Some virtual space activities may engage the usersagainst an environment within the virtual space—i.e., PvE activities. Insome examples, the virtual space activities may engage the users tocompete against one another within the virtual space—i.e., PvPactivities.

The user may participate in the instance of the virtual space by takingactions in the virtual space. In some implementations, the user actionsmay be enabled by physical controls provided by the client computingplatforms client computing platform 104 through, such as but not limitedto, play buttons, joysticks, motion sensors, cameras, keyboards, mouse,and/or any other control device provided by or coupled to clientcomputing platforms 104. In some implementations, the actions may beenabled by controls provided by graphical user interface (GUI)implemented on client computing platforms 104, such as but not limitedto, graphics, menus, dialog boxes, forms, sliding bars, buttons, radiobox, tabs, and/or any other controls provided by the GUI. In any case,as so enabled, the user may provide inputs to direct virtual spacemaneuvers, to participate in virtual activities and/or engage in otherinteractions within the virtual space. For example, a user may providean input specifying an amount of troops to be marched to a virtual spacelocation to defend that virtual space location. Commands may begenerated for the user action and may be executed by the space module106 in the virtual space such that the user interactions with thevirtual space may be effectuated in the virtual space following theexecution. Execution of such a command by the space module 106 mayproduce changes to the virtual space state, which may reflect progressesand/or results of the user initiated actions. In some examples, statechanges caused by user actions may be recorded in the electronic storage122 to facilitate persistency throughout the instance of the virtualspace.

Within the instance of the virtual space executed by space module 106,resources may be, for example, generated, cultivated, mined, harvested,purchased, earned, traded and/or gifted over time by units, characters,pets, buildings, facilities and/or any other infrastructure or entity inthe virtual space for the user. Resources may be prospected. Resourcesmay be virtual items of value that can be accumulated throughparticipation in the virtual space, rather than virtual items that canonly be bought. Resources may be virtual items that are accumulated enmasse and then used to satisfy resource requirements in the virtualspace. By way of non-limiting examples, virtual space resources mayinclude food (e.g., rice, fish, wheat, etc.), wood, minerals (e.g.,good, iron, ore, coal, oil, stone, crystal, etc.), plants, animals,virtual items, virtual currencies, and/or any other resourcesappropriate for the virtual space. Transfer of resources between usersmay be reflected through user inventories such that the transferoruser's inventory reduces an amount of the transferred resources that areadded to the transferee user.

Some virtual space activities may require consumption of virtualresources. During the virtual space activities, an amount of theresources may be increased or decreased in the user inventory to reflecta consumption (including exhaustion) or procurement of the resources dueto the virtual space activities. Some virtual space activities may beassociated with time requirements for completion. Length of such timerequirements may vary based on various factors specific to the virtualspace activities. For example, constructing a level 1 wall in thevirtual space may require 30 minutes build time; constructing a level 2wall may require 1 hour build time; constructing a level 3 wall mayrequire 2 hour build time; constructing a level 4 wall may require 3hour build time; and so on. The required time for an activity may beshortened by user consumption of virtual items and/or resources. Forexample, hourglasses may be consumed by users to shorten timerequirements for an building, training, research and/or any otherdurational activity within the virtual space.

Within the instance of the virtual space executed by the space module106, one or more events may occur. The occurrences of the eventstypically involve state changes perceivable to users within the virtualspace. In some examples, such state changes may be results of useractions within the virtual space. For example, topology, position,character, and/or any other state changes may be caused by a user actionof laying roads on a tile within the virtual space. In another example,a user action of marching troops to a virtual space location may producean event of the troops getting lost on the way.

However, not all events within the virtual space are necessarily causedby user actions. Some events may be created dynamically during runtimeof system 100 or predetermined at a configuration stage of system 100 bya provider, administrator, moderator, and/or any other entities relatedto the virtual space. For example, an earthquake may occur within thevirtual space at a frequency or randomly as determined by the provider,administrator, moderator, and/or any other entities related to thevirtual space; sun may rise and set at specific times within the virtualspace; and so on.

In some examples, occurrences of events within the virtual space mayproduce impacts to one or more virtual space locations and/or usercharacters that may require user actions. For example, an event of amonster movement caused by one user's action, e.g., hunting the monster,may produce an impact to another user's character that is in the path ofthe monster's movement. As a result, the impacted user may need todirect the user character to move out of the way, and/or to attack themonster. In another example, a NPC intruder may be programmed by theprovider, administrator, moderator, and/or any other entities related tothe virtual space to attack a city controlled by a user randomly.Responsive to occurrence of such a programmed event, the user may needto take action to defend the city, e.g., by transporting troops to thecity.

User-activity module 108 may be configured to identify potential inputsto the space module for users who are participating in chat sessionsthrough graphical chat interfaces. In some implementations, theuser-activity module 108 may be configured to determine one or moreusers are participating in chat sessions through the graphical chatinterfaces. Such determinations may be done by querying user activitiesat a frequency or a sampling rate predetermined by provider,administrator, moderator, and/or any other entities related to thevirtual space at a configuration stage of the system 100. Simultaneouslyand alternatively, such determinations may be made dynamically accordingto triggers, conditions, and/or any other programming rules determinedby the provider, administrator, moderator, and/or any other entitiesrelated to the virtual space.

In any case, for those users determined to be participating in the chatsessions through the graphical chat interfaces, user-activity module 108may dynamically identify potential inputs for users to respond tooccurrences of events within the virtual space, to continue activitieswithin the virtual space, to progress in the virtual space, and/or toengage in any other user interactions with the virtual space. Suchdynamically identified user inputs may include inputs for the users toconsume virtual resources and/or items, initiate virtual spacemaneuvers, transfer virtual recourses, items or entities, manage virtualspace locations (e.g., a city, realm, kingdom, region, state, province,planet, and or any other virtual space locations) controlled by theusers, participate in a quest, mission, campaign within the virtualspace, collect virtual resources, items, train virtual space entitiesand/or user characters, research for skills, experiences, craft,purchase, sell and/or trade virtual items, and/or to engage in with anyother user interactions with the virtual space. The identified potentialuser inputs may vary depending on the corresponding user interactions.For example, for the user to complete upgrading a knight's hall, theuser-activity module 108 may identify for the user potential inputs thatwill initiate user consumption of an hourglass to instantly complete theupgrade of knight's hall within the virtual space. In another example,in a case where a user's city is under attack by another user and/or NPCintruder, the user-activity module 108 may identify potential inputs forthe user to initiate transportation of troops to the city.

In some implementations, the identified potential inputs by theuser-activity module 108 may include inputs for the users to continueactivities already under way in the virtual space. In some examples,user consumption of virtual resources may be required in order for theusers to continue the activities. For example, a user may have startedan upgrade of a knight's hall in the virtual space; the upgrade mayconsume certain virtual resources, e.g., stones, at a predetermined rateduring the time of the upgrade; and during that time, stones may bedepleted in the user inventory due to some other activities engaged bythe user within the virtual space. In that example, the user-activitymodule 108 may identify that the user may need to specify an amount ofstones to be purchased from a virtual store in order for the user tocontinue the upgrading of the knight's hall.

In some examples, occurrences of events within the virtual space mayproduce impacts to the users participating in the chat session throughgraphical chat interfaces. In those examples, the user-activity module108 may be configured to identify potential user inputs for the user torespond to those events. For example, in the case where the user isengaging in a mining activity at virtual space location that is beingattacked by an NPC intruder, the user-activity module 108 may identifythat the user may specify a type and an amount of troops to betransported to that virtual space location for defense. In some otherexamples, the event may not necessarily produce any impact to anyvirtual space activity engaged by the user, but produce impact tovirtual space location, items, elements, and/or any other virtual spaceentities controlled by the user. In those examples, the user-activitymodule 108 may identify potential inputs for users to adapt to theoccurrences of those events. For example, responsive to an earthquakethat has occurred in an area where the user's city is located within thevirtual space, the user-activity module may identify potential inputsfor the user, who otherwise may not be aware of such an event whilechatting with other users through the graphical chat interface, tomanage the city, e.g., reduce taxes, assign entertainers to the city,build more hospitals, etc., so the user may adapt the city to theaftermath of the earthquake through the graphical chat interface.

In some implementations, for those users determined to be participatingin the chat sessions through the graphical chat interfaces, theuser-activity module 108 may be configured to determine virtual spacestatus information related to the users. The status information mayinclude information indicating status of the activities engaged by theusers in the virtual space. Example of such information may include, butnot limited to, progress of the activity (e.g., a percentagerepresentation), time left for the activity to complete, virtualresources that have been and/or will be consumed during the activity,events that have occurred within the activity or in relation to theactivity, various statistics about the activity and/or the virtual spacein general (e.g., troops killed, crops produced, virtual resourcescollected, manna spent, and/or any other statistics related to thevirtual space), and/or any other status information.

In some examples, the determined status information by the user-activitymodule 108 may include information regarding opportunities and/ormotivations provided by the virtual space, which the users otherwise maynot be aware of while chatting with other users through the graphicalchat interface otherwise. For example, as the virtual place progresses,opportunities may become available for those users to participate inquests, missions, campaigns, tournaments, and/or any other activitieswithin the virtual space. In another example, virtual space objectivesmay be available for the user dynamically as the user progresses in thevirtual space, such as, but not limited to, to attack a NPC controlledvirtual space location attackable only by users with certain experiencelevels, to explore newly created virtual space locations, to hunt formonsters that have been introduced to the virtual space, to pick upvirtual items that have been dropped, to observe an epic battle engagedin by two influential users in the virtual space, to research a newtechnology, and/or any other virtual space objectives.

In some implementations, the user-activity module 108 may determine suchstatus information for those users determined to be participating in thechat sessions through the graphical chat interfaces responsive tooccurrence of one or more events within the virtual space. For example,an occurrence of an event may produce an impact to an activityundertaking by one or more of the users, and the user-activity module108 may determine status information regarding that activity responsiveto the occurrence of the event. Simultaneously or alternatively, theuser-activity module 108 may determine such status information at afrequency predetermined by the provider of the virtual space: e.g.,every 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, and so on.

Chat module 110 may be configured to implement chat sessions tofacilitate textual communications between users. The textualcommunications may include one or more of textual chat, instantmessages, private messages, and/or other communications. The textualcommunications may facilitate the users to share information about thevirtual space, engage in social interactions, recruit other users,invite other users to cooperate in the virtual space and/or engage inany other activities enabled the textual communication. The textualcommunications may be received and entered by the users via theirrespective client computing platforms 104 and may be routed to and fromthe appropriate users through server 102 via a chat session implementedby the chat module 110. A chat session may include complete textualcommunication inputs from users who have participated in the chatsession. The textual communication inputs in a chat session may bestored on and accessed from the electronic storage 122. In someexamples, a chat session may be open ended within the virtual space suchthat it does not finish until a provider, administrator, moderator,and/or any other entities related to the virtual space decide not toprovide the chat session through the chat module 110. In some otherexamples, a chat session may be initiated and stopped by users at anytime as desired.

In some implementations, chat sessions may be implemented by the chatmodule based on user relationships. A global chat session may beimplemented such that communication inputs from users may be received byany other users who participate in the global chat session. Typically,no specific virtual space relationships may be required for users toparticipate in the global chat session. Such a global chat session maybe open ended and users may join or leave the global chat session at anytime as desired. An alliance chat session may be implemented differentlyfrom the global chat session in that only alliance members mayparticipate in the alliance chat session. Typically, individual alliancechat sessions are implemented by the chat module for correspondingalliances in the virtual space. Like the global chat session, analliance chat sessions may allow alliance members to join or leave thealliance chat session at any time and may be open ended. A private chatsession may be implemented by the chat module 110 to facilitate usercontrolled communication between or among individual users. For example,a user may initiate a private chat session to communicate with one ormore other users. Unlike global or alliance chat sessions, private chatsessions may not be open ended such that the users may initiate and stopthe private chat sessions as desired. It is understood that the aboveexamples of different types of chat sessions are described only forillustration purposes, and thus are not intended to be limiting. One ofordinary skill in the art will appreciate the chat module 110 mayimplement chat sessions in any other ways to facilitate communicationbetween users in other examples.

In any case, the textual communications between the users in a chatsession implemented by the chat module 110 may be either synchronous orasynchronous. In synchronous communication, individual users may receivecommunication inputs from other users in real-time or near real-time,i.e., without significant delay. In asynchronous communication, timedelays may occur between sending communications inputs and receiving thesent communication inputs. In some implementations, the chat module 110may be configured to mediate asynchronous communication to ensurecorrect receiving orders.

In some implementations, the textual communications between usersfacilitated by the chat module 110 may be location based. For example,synchronous communication may be provided by the chat module to userswith user characters engaging in activities within an area of virtualspace. For instance, users located in a specific realm of virtual spacemay engage in real-time or near real-time communication with oneanother. On the other hand, asynchronous communication may be providedto users with user characters located in different areas of virtualspace.

In any case, the chat module 110 may be configured to transmitcommunication inputs in a chat session to client computing platforms 104associated with users. The communication inputs in the chat session maybe presented through a graphical chat interface on the client computingplatforms 104. The user may select a full view of the graphical chatinterface such that it replaces any view of the space on the clientcomputing platform 104. That is, the graphical chat interface may bepresented on the client computing platform 104 exclusively such that theuser engaging with the graphical chat interface may not have access tocontrols provided by a space interface.

The activity-notification module 112 may be configured to generateactivity notifications for the users engaging in chat sessions throughgraphical chat interfaces based on the potential user inputs determinedby the user-activity module 108. The generated notification may includegraphical representation information that notifies the user of thepotential inputs, status information as determined by the user-activitymodule 108, and/or any other information related to the virtual space.Examples of such graphical representation information may include animage, a graphical art, an animation, and/or any other graphical displayof the activity notification. In some implementations, the generatedactivity notification may include information that facilitatespresentation of one or more controls through the graphical chatinterface. Such controls may facilitate the user to provide inputs asrequested by the activity notification.

Responsive to the generated activity notification, theactivity-notification module 112 may be configured to effectuate acommunication of the generated activity notifications. In someimplementations, the activity-notification module 112 may be configuredto determine one or more chat sessions being participated by the userfor whom the activity notification(s) is generated. Based on such adetermination, the activity-notification module 112 may be configured toaddress the activity notification to the determined chat session(s) andinitiate communication of the activity notification to the user throughthe determined chat session(s) via the chat module 110.

The response-request module 114 may be configured to receive useracceptance to the activity notification through the graphical chatinterface and to generate activity commands to effectuate the useractions initiated through the acceptance in the virtual space. Areceived user acceptance may specify that a user has specified inputsrequested by an activity notification through the graphical chatinterface implemented on a client computing platform 104 associated withthe user. By way of non-limiting examples, the received user acceptancemay include an amount of virtual resources, items and/or any othervirtual space entities to be consumed, virtual space maneuvers, citymanagements, researching, training, mining, troop transportation,resource collecting, attacking, defending and/or any other user inputsthat may initiate user actions within the virtual space in response tothe activity notification.

In some implementations, the response-request module 114 may receive theacceptance to activity notifications from the chat module 110. Forexample, a responding user may send the acceptance through a chatsession by providing inputs requested by the activity notificationsthrough the graphical chat interface. Such an acceptance may be receivedand recognized by the chat module 110, which may be configured to pushthe acceptance to the response-request module 112 for further action.However, this is not necessarily the only case. In another example, theacceptance may be transmitted to the response-request module 112directly from a client platform 104 associated with the responding user.In that example, response-request module 114 may be configured tointeract with a network module of system 100 to receive the acceptancedirectly from the user without, for example, examining the chat session.

In any case, responsive to receiving user acceptance to the activitynotifications, the response-request module 114 may be configured togenerate one or more activity commands to effectuate user actionsprovided through the acceptance. To generate the activity commands, theresponse-request module 114 may be configured to parse the receivedacceptance to extract action parameters as provided by the respondinguser. Syntax for acceptance to activity request may be determined by theprovider, administrator, moderator, and/or any other entities related tothe virtual space at a configuration stage of system 100 and may be usedfor parsing such acceptances.

Based on the determined action parameters, the response-request module114 may generate one or more activity commands executable by the spacemodule 106 to effectuate the user action(s) provided through theacceptance in the virtual space. For example, in the case where a useracceptance specifies that it accepts a request to purchase 1000 stonesuser's upgrading of a knight's hall, the response-request module 114 maygenerate an activity command(s) to purchase the 1000 stones from avirtual store provided by the virtual space, to charge the user accountfor the purchase, and to add the 1000 stones to the user inventory.

The server 102, client computing platforms 104, and/or externalresources 120 may be operatively linked via one or more electroniccommunication links. For example, such electronic communication linksmay be established, at least in part, via a network such as the Internetand/or other networks. It will be appreciated that this is not intendedto be limiting, and that the scope of this disclosure includesimplementations in which servers 102, client computing platforms 104,and/or external resources 120 may be operatively linked via some othercommunication media.

A given client computing platform 104 may include one or more processorsconfigured to execute computer program modules. The computer programmodules may be configured to enable an expert or user associated withthe given client computing platform 104 to interface with system 100and/or external resources 118, and/or provide other functionalityattributed herein to client computing platforms 104. By way ofnon-limiting example, the given client computing platform 104 mayinclude one or more of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheldcomputer, a tablet computing platform, a NetBook, a Smartphone, a gamingconsole, and/or other computing platforms.

External resources 118 may include sources of information, hosts and/orproviders of virtual environments outside of system 118, externalentities participating with system 100, and/or other resources. In someimplementations, some or all of the functionality attributed herein toexternal resources 118 may be provided by resources included in system100.

Server 102 may include electronic storage 122, one or more processors120, and/or other components. Server 102 may include communicationlines, or ports to enable the exchange of information with a networkand/or other computing platforms. Illustration of server 102 in FIG. 1is not intended to be limiting. Server 102 may include a plurality ofhardware, software, and/or firmware components operating together toprovide the functionality attributed herein to server 102. For example,server 102 may be implemented by a cloud of computing platformsoperating together as server 102.

Electronic storage 122 may comprise non-transitory storage media thatelectronically stores information. The electronic storage media ofelectronic storage 122 may include one or both of system storage that isprovided integrally (i.e., substantially non-removable) with server 102and/or removable storage that is removably connectable to server 102via, for example, a port (e.g., a USB port, a firewire port, etc.) or adrive (e.g., a disk drive, etc.). Electronic storage 122 may include oneor more of optically readable storage media (e.g., optical disks, etc.),magnetically readable storage media (e.g., magnetic tape, magnetic harddrive, floppy drive, etc.), electrical charge-based storage media (e.g.,EEPROM, RAM, etc.), solid-state storage media (e.g., flash drive, etc.),and/or other electronically readable storage media. Electronic storage116 may include one or more virtual storage resources (e.g., cloudstorage, a virtual private network, and/or other virtual storageresources). Electronic storage 122 may store software algorithms,information determined by processor 120, information received fromserver 102, information received from client computing platforms 104,and/or other information that enables server 102 to function asdescribed herein.

Processor(s) 120 is configured to provide information processingcapabilities in server 102. As such, processor 120 may include one ormore of a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuitdesigned to process information, an analog circuit designed to processinformation, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronicallyprocessing information. Although processor 120 is shown in FIG. 1 as asingle entity, this is for illustrative purposes only. In someimplementations, processor 120 may include a plurality of processingunits. These processing units may be physically located within the samedevice, or processor 120 may represent processing functionality of aplurality of devices operating in coordination. The processor 120 may beconfigured to execute modules 106, 108, 110, 112, 114 and/or othermodules. Processor 120 may be configured to execute modules 106, 108,110, 112, 114 and/or other modules by software; hardware; firmware; somecombination of software, hardware, and/or firmware; and/or othermechanisms for configuring processing capabilities on processor 120. Asused herein, the term “module” may refer to any component or set ofcomponents that perform the functionality attributed to the module. Thismay include one or more physical processors during execution ofprocessor readable instructions, the processor readable instructions,circuitry, hardware, storage media, or any other components.

It should be appreciated that although modules 106, 108, 110, 112, 114are illustrated in FIG. 1 as being implemented within a singleprocessing unit, in implementations in which processor 122 includesmultiple processing units, one or more of modules 106, 108, 110, 112,114 may be implemented remotely from the other modules. The descriptionof the functionality provided by the different modules 106, 106, 108,110, 112, 114 described below is for illustrative purposes, and is notintended to be limiting, as any of modules 106, 108, 110, 112, 114 mayprovide more or less functionality than is described. For example, oneor more of modules 106, 108, 110, 112, 114 may be eliminated, and someor all of its functionality may be provided by other ones of modules106, 108, 110, 112, 114. As another example, processor 120 may beconfigured to execute one or more additional modules that may performsome or all of the functionality attributed below to one of modules 106,108, 110, 112, 114.

It is understood that the above description of system 100 is merelyillustrated as one example of a system configured to facilitate userinteractions with a virtual space through a graphical chat interface. Itshould be appreciated that in some examples, a localized system 100 maybe configured according to a stand-alone architecture such that thesystem configured to provide rewards to a user in a virtual space basedon user performance of gesture in accordance with the disclosure may belocalized. For example, the localized system 100 may comprise aprocessor the same as or similar to the processor 120, e.g., a CPU, agraphical processing unit (GPU), storage, memory, an I/O subsystem,and/or other components included the localized system 100. In thoseexamples, the CPU may be configured to communicate virtual space stateinformation to the GPU through any suitable wired or wirelesscommunications such as, but not limited to, a point-to-pointcommunication like a data bus included in the localized system 100. TheGPU may be configured to determine representational view information forpresenting instances of virtual space on one or more displays coupled toor included in the localized system 100. It should also be appreciatedin some other examples, multiple localized systems 100 may be connectedvia any wired or wireless links according to a distributed architecture(e.g., peer to peer networks) such that the localized systems 100 may beconfigured to operate in concert to achieve all or some of the functionsof 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, as described above.

FIG. 2A illustrates one example of facilitating user interactions with avirtual space through a graphical chat interface 200 in accordance withthe disclosure. It will be described with references to FIG. 1. Asillustrated, the graphical chat interface 200 may comprise tabs for chatsessions 202. In this example, the graphical chat interface 200 isgenerated for user 1 on a client computing platform 104 (not shown inthis example for clarity of illustration) associated with user 1. Inthis example, two chat sessions are available through the graphical chatinterface 200—a global chat session and an alliance chat session. Asalso shown, in this example, two users, user 1 and user 2, are engagingin textual communications 210 through a global chat session 202. Theirtextual communications 210 may be input to the global chat session 202through a text box 204 and a chat button 206 included in the graphicalchat interface 200, as shown. The graphical chat interface 200 alsocomprises a scroll bar 208 to facilitate the textual communications 210between user 1 and user 2. As shown in this example, the user 1, statusinformation about an upgrade of a knight's hall in the virtual space ispresented in the chat interface 200 through graphical representation 210based on activity notification 220 generated by the server 102. Asdescribed above, in some implementations, the activity notification 220may be generated by activity-notification module 112. As shown, theactivity notification 220 may comprise graphical representationinformation of the knight's hall. In this example, the activitynotification 220 is presented in the graphical interface at 6:20 pm and6:29 to notify user 1 about respective upgrade progresses asillustrated. In this example, also shown is a control 214 facilitatingthe user to speed up the upgrade of knight's hall based on correspondinginformation included in the activity notification 220. The control 214in this example provides an opportunity for the user to shorten theupgrade time required for the knight's hall. As also shown, at 6:29 pm,user 1 decides to speed up the upgrade by clicking on the speed-upcontrol 214.

FIG. 2B illustrates an example of facilitating a user to consume virtualitems through a graphical chat interface 200 in accordance with thedisclosure. In this example, the graphical chat interface 200 isgenerated for user 1 on a client computing platform 104 (not shown inthis example for clarity of illustration) associated with user 1. Inthis example, as shown, responsive to user 1's inputs to speed up theupgrade of the knight's hall through the speed-up control 214, controls214 that facilitate the user to select an hourglass for consumption sothe speedup of the upgrade may be achieved. As shown in this example,the hourglass controls 214 may be generated in the graphical chatinterface 200 based on corresponding graphical representationinformation included in the activity notification 220. As illustrated,the hourglass controls 214 provide options available for user 1 toconsume different hourglasses owned by user 1 or purchase an availablehourglass from a virtual store (i.e., the “get more” option). As shown,in this example, user 1 selects to consume Guinevere's hourglass.

FIG. 2C illustrates an example of facilitating a user to interact withthe virtual space by identifying potential inputs for the user toinitiate an action within the virtual space. In this example, thegraphical chat interface 200 is generated for user 1 on a clientcomputing platform 104 (not shown in this example for clarity ofillustration) associated with user 1. As shown in this example,graphical representation 212 of status information indicating that theknight's hall upgrade has completed within the virtual space ispresented in the graphical chat interface 200. As illustrated, thegraphical representation 212 may be presented based on an activitynotification 220 generated by the sever 102. Also shown in this exampleis potential inputs for the user to train knights in the newly upgradedknight's hall is determined and an activity notification 220 indicatingsuch is generated. Responsive to such an activity notification 220, thegraphical chat interface 200 may generate a control 212 for user 1 tospecify whether to train the knights, as illustrated. As shown, user 1has accepted the knight training opportunity provided by the activitynotification 220.

FIG. 2D illustrates another example of facilitating a user to interactwith a virtual space through a graphical chat interface. In thisexample, the graphical chat interface 200 is generated for user 1 on aclient computing platform 104 (not shown in this example for clarity ofillustration) associated with user 1. As shown, in this example, anactivity notification 220 may be generated by the sever 102 to notifythe user that various characteristics about user 1's knights may beincreased. As shown, a control 214 to facilitate user inputs to specifyan amount of experience points of the knight may be provided in thegraphical chat interface 200.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary method 300 for facilitating userinteractions with the virtual space through a graphical chat interface.The operations of method 300 presented below are intended to beillustrative. In some embodiments, method 300 may be accomplished withone or more additional operations not described, and/or without one ormore of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in which theoperations of method 300 are illustrated in FIG. 3 and described belowis not intended to be limiting.

In some embodiments, method 300 may be implemented in one or moreprocessing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, adigital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuitdesigned to process information, a state machine, and/or othermechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices executing some or allof the operations of method 300 in response to instructions storedelectronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices configured throughhardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed forexecution of one or more of the operations of method 300.

At operation 302, an instance of a virtual space may be executed andimplemented to determine view information for transmission to one ormore client computing platforms associated with users. The users mayparticipate in the virtual space by controlling entities therein. Insome implementations, operation 302 may be performed by a space modulethe same as or similar to space module 106 (shown in FIG. 1 anddescribed herein).

At operation 304, a determination that a user is participating in a chatsession through a graphical chat interface is made. In someimplementations, operation 304 may be performed by user-activity modulethe same as or similar to user-activity module 108 (shown in FIG. 1 anddescribed herein).

At operation 306, potential inputs to the virtual space may beidentified for the user determined in operation 304. The potentialinputs may be identified to further user progress in the virtual spaceand/or to continue virtual space activities engaged by the user. In someexamples, the identified potential inputs may include userspecifications for an amount and/or type of virtual resources, items,and/or any other virtual space elements to be consumed in the virtualspace. In some implementations, operation 306 may be performed byuser-activity module the same as or similar to user-activity module 108(shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

At operation 308, virtual space status information may be determined forthe user determined in operation 304. The status information may includeinformation regarding progress of a virtual space activity(s) engaged bythe user in the virtual space, events in the virtual space, statisticsabout the activity and/or the virtual space in general, and/or any otherstatus information. In some implementations, operation 308 may beperformed by user-activity module the same as or similar touser-activity module 108 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

At operation 310, an activity notification may be generated for the userbased on the potential inputs identified in operation 306 and/or statusinformation determined in operation 308. The activity notification maycomprise graphical representation of the notification and as well asrepresentation information about one or more controls for facilitatingthe user to specify inputs requested by the notification through thegraphical chat interface. In some implementations, operation 310 may beperformed by activity-notification module the same as or similar toactivity-notification module 112 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

At operation 312, the activity notification generated in operation 312may be communicated to the user through the graphical chat interface. Insome implementations, operation 312 may be performed by chat module thesame as or similar to chat module 110 (shown in FIG. 1 and describedherein).

At operation 314, user acceptance responding to the activitynotification via the graphical chat interface may be received. In someimplementations, operation 314 may be performed by request-responsemodule the same as or similar to request-response module 114 (shown inFIG. 1 and described herein).

At operation 316, one or more activity commands may be generated basedon the user acceptance received in operation 316. In someimplementations, operation 316 may be performed by request-responsemodule the same as or similar to request-response module 114 (shown inFIG. 1 and described herein).

At operation 318, the activity command (s) generated in operation 318may be executed in the virtual space. In some implementations, operation318 may be performed by a space module the same as or similar to spacemodule 106 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

Although the present technology has been described in detail for thepurpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be themost practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understoodthat such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology isnot limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, isintended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that arewithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it isto be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to theextent possible, one or more features of any implementation can becombined with one or more features of any other implementation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system configured to facilitate userinteractions with a virtual space through graphical chat interfaces, thesystem comprising: one or more processors configured by machine-readableinstructions to: execute an instance of the virtual space that includesa simulated 3-dimensional topography, and implement the instance of thevirtual space by executing commands, wherein execution of the commandsfacilitates interactions between users and further facilitateslocomotion of user-controlled objects within the simulated 3-dimensionaltopography of the virtual space; present space interfaces to the userson the client computing platforms, wherein the space interfaces presentthe simulated 3-dimensional topography, wherein the users includeparticipating users that participate in chat sessions, wherein theparticipating users include a first user, wherein the space interfacesinclude a first space interface that is presented to the first user on afirst client computing platform associated with the first user;implement an instance of a chat session to facilitate textualcommunications between the participating users, and transmit the textualcommunications that make up the chat session to the client computingplatforms associated with the participating users; present graphicalchat interfaces to the participating users such that the graphical chatinterfaces replace the space interfaces, wherein the graphical chatinterfaces facilitate the textual communications between theparticipating users, wherein the graphical chat interfaces include afirst graphical chat interface that is presented to the first user onthe first client computing platform such that the first graphical chatinterface replaces the first space interface and the first user has noaccess to controls provided by the first space interface duringpresentation of the first graphical chat interface; identify potentialinputs for the participating users, the potential inputs includingavailable inputs for the participating users to select one or moreinteractions within the simulated 3-dimensional topography of thevirtual space that, upon selection, will effectuate particularlocomotion of particular user-controlled objects between virtual spacelocations within the simulated 3-dimensional topography of the virtualspace, wherein the potential inputs include a first potential input forthe first user that represents a first action that occurs within thesimulated 3-dimensional topography of the virtual space; present,through the graphical chat interfaces, the identified potential inputsfor the participating users such that the participating users can selectone or more of the identified potential inputs in the graphical chatinterfaces; receive, through the graphical chat interfaces, user inputfrom the participating users, wherein the received user input indicatesthe selection of the one or more of the identified potential inputs,wherein the received user input from the first user, through the firstgraphical chat interface, indicates selection of the first potentialinput; and responsive to receipt of the user input through the firstgraphical chat interface from the first user, effectuate the firstaction within the first space interface that presents the first actionoccurring in the simulated 3-dimensional topography of the virtualspace.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first action includes afirst locomotion of a first user-controlled object between particularvirtual space locations within the simulated 3-dimensional topography ofthe virtual space.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or moreprocessors are further configured by machine-readable instructions todetermine and present virtual space status information for the firstuser through the first graphical chat interface, wherein the virtualspace status information includes a first virtual space location of thefirst user within the virtual space.
 4. The system of claim 3, whereinthe one or more processors are configured by machine-readableinstructions such that the status information is generated for the firstuser responsive to occurrence of an event related to the first userwithin the instance of the virtual space.
 5. The system of claim 4,wherein the one or more processors are configured by machine-readableinstructions such that the status information is generated for the firstuser at a predetermined frequency.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein thefirst potential input is related to marching, researching, crafting,building, transporting, mining, prospecting, or training within thevirtual space.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the commands arereceived from the users through client computing platforms associatedwith the users.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or moreprocessors are further configured by machine-readable instructions suchthat presenting the identified potential inputs includes presenting,through the graphical chat interfaces, one or more controls thatfacilitate consumption of virtual resources associated with the firstaction.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical chat interfacesare presented on the client computing platforms exclusively, and whereinthe one or more processors are further configured by machine-readableinstructions such that: responsive to identification of a secondpotential input for a second user and also responsive to the second userparticipating in the chat session through a second graphical chatinterface, the second potential input is presented to the second userthrough the second graphical chat interface implemented on a clientcomputing platform associated with the second user.
 10. A method forfacilitating user interactions with a virtual space, the method beingimplemented in one or more physical processors configured bymachine-readable instructions, the method comprising: executing aninstance of the virtual space that includes a simulated 3-dimensionaltopography; implementing the instance of the virtual space by executingcommands, wherein execution of the commands facilitates userinteractions between users and further facilitates locomotion ofuser-controlled objects within the simulated 3-dimensional topography ofthe virtual space; presenting space interfaces to the users on theclient computing platforms, wherein the space interfaces present thesimulated 3-dimensional topography, wherein the users includeparticipating users that participate in chat sessions, wherein theparticipating users include a first user, wherein the space interfacesinclude a first space interface that is presented to the first user on afirst client computing platform associated with the first user;implementing an instance of a chat session to facilitate textualcommunications between the participating users; transmitting the textualcommunications that make up the chat session to the client computingplatforms associated with the participating users; presenting graphicalchat interfaces to the participating users such that the graphical chatinterfaces replace the space interfaces, wherein the graphical chatinterfaces facilitate the textual communications between theparticipating users, wherein the graphical chat interfaces include afirst graphical chat interface that is presented to the first user onthe first client computing platform such that the first graphical chatinterface replaces the first space interface and the first user has noaccess to controls provided by the first space interface duringpresentation of the first graphical chat interface; identifyingpotential inputs to the virtual space for the participating users, thepotential inputs including available inputs for the participating usersto select one or more interactions within the simulated 3-dimensionaltopography of the virtual space that, upon selection, will effectuateparticular locomotion of particular user-controlled objects betweenvirtual space locations within the simulated 3-dimensional topography ofthe virtual space, wherein the potential inputs include a firstpotential input for the first user that represents a first action thatoccurs within the simulated 3-dimensional topography of the virtualspace; presenting, through the graphical chat interfaces, the identifiedpotential inputs for the participating users such that the participatingusers can select one or more of the identified potential inputs in thegraphical chat interfaces; receiving, through the graphical chatinterfaces, user input from the participating users, wherein thereceived user input indicates the selection of the one or more of theidentified potential inputs, wherein the received user input from thefirst user, through the first graphical chat interface, indicatesselection of the first potential input; and responsive to receiving theuser input through the first graphical chat interface from the firstuser, effectuating the first action within the first space interfacethat presents the first action occurring in the simulated 3-dimensionaltopography of the virtual space.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein thefirst action includes a first locomotion of a first user-controlledobject between particular virtual space locations within the simulated3-dimensional topography of the virtual space.
 12. The method of claim10, further comprising determining and presenting virtual space statusinformation for the first user through the first graphical chatinterface, wherein the virtual space status information includes a firstvirtual space location of the first user within the virtual space. 13.The method of claim 12, wherein the status information is generated forthe first user responsive to occurrence of an event related to the firstuser within the instance of the virtual space.
 14. The method of claim13, wherein the status information is generated for the first user at apredetermined frequency.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the firstpotential input is related to marching, researching, crafting, building,transporting, mining, prospecting, or training within the virtual space.16. The method of claim 10, wherein the commands are received from theusers through client computing platforms associated with the users. 17.The method of claim 10, wherein presenting the identified potentialinputs includes presenting, through the graphical chat interfaces, oneor more controls that facilitate consumption of virtual resourcesassociated with the first action.
 18. The method of claim 10, whereinthe graphical chat interfaces are presented on the client computingplatforms exclusively, the method further comprising: responsive toidentification of a second potential input for a second user and alsoresponsive to the second user participating in the chat session througha second graphical chat interface, presenting the second potential inputto the second user through the second graphical chat interfaceimplemented on a client computing platform associated with the seconduser.